Two police officers with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have travelled to Mauritius, the island nation off the southwest coast of Africa, to help with the ongoing investigation into the death of Irish woman Michaela McAreavey.

The two officers will reportedly act in a family liaison role according to the PSNI, who have declined to give any further details at this stage of the investigation.

It's understood the police officers will oversee all developments in the case and that their presence may send a message to the authorities on the island about the pace and direction of the current investigation.

Police in Mauritius are still investigating the murder the tragic newly-wed, who was found dead in her hotel room on 10 January.

McAreavey, 27, was on her honeymoon with husband John whom she had married just 12 days previously.

To date four people have been charged with her murder, which the authorities have determined was due to strangulation.

Local police also arrested a fifth man earlier this month but the charges against him were later dropped.